As I see it | China is trying to move on from Covid. But is it prepared for the next outbreak?
- The country is in a better position to respond to a new infectious disease, and has invested in vaccines
- But Beijing needs to review its response, and strengthening the healthcare system should be a priority
The government is doing everything it can to revive the economy while many people are busy looking for new business or job opportunities as economic activities resume.
Elsewhere, the United States is on track to end its Covid national emergency. And the World Health Organization has recommended that only vulnerable groups will need further booster shots.
As China’s economic engine starts humming again, it is time to revisit a question asked by experts at the start of the pandemic: are we prepared for another new infectious disease? And are we prepared for another epidemic, or even a pandemic?
The threat of new infectious diseases is real. For years, scientists have warned about the higher chance of animal viruses spilling over to humans, who are taking over many natural habitats. There could be more to come after this coronavirus.
While the Omicron strain has become less pathogenic than previous ones, scientists are now watching the rising cases in India, which they suspect could be caused by a subvariant called XBB.1.16.
There is no evidence that the subvariant can cause more severe disease than earlier Omicron variants, but it is a reminder that Covid-19 is still around and that its mutations need to be monitored and we need to be prepared.